Friday, June 14, 2013

The third and final installment in the housing series
focuses on the most important feature in the rabbit pen: the litterbox.

Many rabbits spend a lot of time in their
litterboxes, and use it not solely for elimination and hay consumption, but also view
it as a comfortable place to take a nap, groom, or just hang out.

Accordingly, the
box itself needs to be spacious enough to allow the rabbit to move around comfortably.
For a medium-sized single rabbit, a cat litterbox, such as this one from Target,
works perfectly. For a larger breed, or for a bonded pair or trio, invest instead
in a large plastic container.
They are large, cheap, and easy to clean. With multiple rabbits, I
recommend having multiple litterboxes to increase chance of good habits.
Multiple litterboxes are a good idea also if the
rabbit-proofed area is large or encompasses several rooms.

This plastic container is spacious enough for two.

Litterboxes should be cleaned frequently, about every three
days, especially to avoid the buildup of ammonia that can cause respiratory issues when it becomes too
concentrated.

White vinegar is a safe and effective cleaner.

Setting up the Litterbox

I recommend lining the box with newspaper before adding a
few inches of rabbit-safe litter. Carefresh and Yesterday’s News are great
options for odor absorption and wood stove pellets are a great economical
option. Some people like aspen shavings, but be sure to avoid pine or cedar chips as
those have been linked to health issues. Additionally, avoid any clumping or dusty cat litters.

Place a large amount of quality grass
hay on one side of the litterbox and make sure the hay is replenished
frequently. There should always be a generous portion of hay in the box, as it is integral for a rabbit's well-being. Rabbits tend
to eat the hay from one side of the box and use the other side of the box for
elimination purposes.

Common Litterbox Problems

Tipping over the box

If your rabbit is repeatedly tipping over his or
her litterbox, switch to a larger and more substantial litterbox. You
can also try switching to a heavier type of litter (wood
stove pellets, for instance, are heavier than Carefresh, etc). For the
really persistent rabbits, you can secure the box to the side of the
cage/pen with some heavy duty zip ties. This problem,
like most others, usually stems from boredom, so addressing the root of the problem is also integral.

Digging in box

Nothing is more infuriating than coming home to an empty
litterbox with the contents spread all around the floor next to it. A homemade or purchased grate can stop this problem easily.

Not using box

A rabbit who suddenly refuses to use a litterbox
could be suffering from a medical issue, such as a urinary tract
infection or stones, or even a neurologic
or orthopedic problem preventing physical entry into the box. A young
rabbit messing up previously perfect litterbox habits usually results
from an increase in hormones as he or she enters puberty. All these warrant a visit to the veterinarian.

Lack
of proper litterbox habits could be behavioral as well. Is the
litterbox too dirty to be
appealing? Does the rabbit prefer another type of litter? Is the box
large enough to be accommodating? Some rabbits may need to be re-trained to use the litterbox.

Urinating next to box

Your rabbit is using the litterbox and yet you find
urine
next to or under the box. This is an indication she may be urinating
over the edge of the box. Watch closely the next time she urinates and
you’ll notice her
raising her hind end ever so slightly prior to urination. If the edges
of the
box are too low, your rabbit could accidently be missing the box. Try a
box with a
higher edge, one that is larger, or even a covered cat litterbox.

Are there any other problems I haven’t covered? Leave them
in the comments section and I will address them as I can!

Saturday, June 8, 2013

Please check out this story of a rescued rabbit, Jeni-Bun down in Tennessee. Clover Patch Sanctuary is trying to raise funds for her surgery and medical treatments. See here for more information and donate if you can, and share this brave little girl's story!

Tuesday, March 12, 2013

The second installment in the housing series describes ideas for the rabbit's actual cage/pen set-up.

Cages sold at pet stores for rabbits tend to be very small
except for the tiniest of rabbits, therefore invest instead in a large dog
crate, or better yet, a puppy exercise pen. The pens allow more freedom, are
easier to clean, and easier to manipulate, move, and store. They are versatile
in the spaces they can fit, too.

When setting up the rabbit’s living area, feel free to get creative. However, certain rules should be followed to ensure the safety and needs of the animal are met.

First, the floor of the living quarters should be solid,
that is, not wire-bottomed. Rabbits can develop “sore hocks” (ulcerative
pododermatitis) from standing on wire all day. The bottoms of rabbit feet are
covered in fur only and can get traumatized from uneven surfaces. Some breeds
are more predisposed to this than others (for instance, the Rex breeds). For
messier rabbits, I like to line the bottom of the pen with a vinyl floor
protector (like this one, available from Walmart). Most rabbits appreciate having a soft carpet
to lie on as well.

The cage or pen needs to be large enough so that the rabbit
can comfortably hop around and stand up on her hind legs without hitting her
head. The bigger, the better.

The rabbit’s house should include a large litterbox and
bowls for food and water. I also recommend having an assortment of toys such as
tunnels, cardboard boxes, cardboard rolls stuffed with hay, hay twists, stuffed
animals, and a hidey box.

A prime example of a rabbit house. The pen door is easily opened to allow the rabbits to run around and explore.

Wednesday, February 20, 2013

The first of three installments in the Housing Series deals with variations in housing possibilities.

I’m often asked about the best way to house rabbits. Of course, indoor housing is a must. But once inside, should a rabbit be caged? Penned? Allowed free-range?

While many bunny owners allow their rabbits to live in a free-range environment 24/7, this decision should be influenced by a variety of factors.
First, consider the available space: is there an entire room that can be closed off and completely rabbit-proofed? If not, then keeping your rabbits penned up while you're gone may be a safer option.

Consider also the naughtiness level of the rabbit in question. Some rabbits are less inclined to chew and dig, and these guys are prime candidates for a free-range situation. In others, these behaviors are deeply ingrained and keeping them in some sort of containing structure (dog crate, pen) while they are unsupervised is highly recommended. As long as you allow your rabbits several hours of out-of-cage time daily, using a pen or large dog crate is perfectly acceptable.

Naughtiness Level: High

Picking the area of the house to place the pen should be thoroughly planned out. It’s important that your rabbit be kept in a relatively high-traffic area of the house, such as the living room. This keeps the animal from becoming isolated and bored, and also makes giving the rabbit out-of-pen time easier. You should not have to pick up and carry your rabbit to a room where he or she can lounge—the constant chasing around and picking up is not conducive to a harmonious relationship.

It is much easier to keep the pen in an area of the house where you spend the most amount of time, and simply open the pen and let your rabbit out when you're home. When it’s time to pen her up, train her to hop to her pen for a treat. This is much lower stress, and with rabbits, the lower the stress, the better for everyone.

Stay tuned for the second installment in the Housing Series, in which we will explore setting up the perfect rabbit pen!

Sunday, April 17, 2011

I know all of us bunnyparents look forward to the Easter holiday season and the sudden availability of all imaginable rabbit-shaped objects that comes along with it. But while we’re enjoying the bunny cards and figurines, we need to realize that Easter is also a terrible time for many rabbits. Year after year, unsuspecting parents buy real baby bunnies to put in their children’s Easter baskets alongside jelly beans and chocolate eggs. Weeks later, these rabbits are dumped at shelters or (even worse) released into the wild, when the family slowly realizes that rabbits are not perfectly behaved inanimate objects.

As you and I know, rabbits are not toys, and they’re certainly not appropriate gifts for young children. Help spread the word to people in your area by writing in to your local newspaper, putting up posters at obliging shops/malls/grocery stores/veterinary clinics, or simply talking to friends and family about the commitment involved in owning a rabbit. Shelter and rescue volunteers have already begun spreading the word all over the country and I urge you to reach out and educate your local town or city about choosing toy rabbits for Easter, and adopting real rabbits for life.

While Peanut (left) and Jimmy may look like toys, these 3 lb. dwarf Hotots are real-life bunny brothers, adopted for life by Caroline and Matt in Boston, MA.

To read more about a national Easter awareness initiative, check out the House Rabbit Society’s Make Mine Chocolate campaign.

Subscribe To

About Me

Mary Lempert is a long time rabbit owner, foster parent, and licensed educator for the House Rabbit Society. Formerly, she worked as adoption counselor for the House Rabbit Network and as a rabbit behavior consultant to the Boston MSPCA. She has written about the care and behavior of rabbits for newspapers, magazines, and online sources, as well as a book about rabbit behavior (forthcoming). She resides in West Lafayette, Indiana, with her rabbits, Graysie, Winthrop, & Oliver, and any number of foster bunnies, and attends veterinary school at Purdue University. She plans on specializing in exotic animal medicine and surgery.

Got an Urgent Question?

If youhave an urgent question, call theHouse Rabbit Network'shotlineat781-431-1211 for an answer within 24 hours. If your rabbit is having a medical emergency, call your veterinarian right away--every second counts!

Mission Statement

The Rabbit Advocate attempts to explain the intricacies of bunny behavior and dispel certain myths by exploring various areas of rabbit ethology and answering mailed in reader questions. A greater understanding of these amazing creatures will lead to stronger bonds between them and their human companions, which is the first step in ending the flood of abandoned rabbits at shelters around the country. Email related questions to TheRabbitAdvocate@gmail.com.